bigbeard

Boy, what a tough question. Easy to define in macro, impossible to pin down on the real world level. I would be very surprised if there is anyone, anywhere, at any time in Scouting who leads a lifestyle that someone, somewhere could not point to a facet of and take exception to it. Human failing and weakness is recognized as inevitable, and virtue the successful struggle against it. Organized religion has a mechanism for drawing the line while hoping for virtue; it's called forgiveness. Organized Scouting has a mechanism for drawing the line while hoping for virtue, too. It's cal

Our Troop always travels in Class A to and from hiking/camping activities, with a Troop Class B required thereafter. We also have sweatshirts in the same Class B style for mild weather. In winter, when outerwear covers all,I encourage the boys to wear their Scout hats in the woods when the usually-mild Mid Atlantic weather permits, providing easy recognition. When pressed for a rational explanation for uniforms in public, I explain that it is the 2nd best way to let people know we are Scouts. When asked, inevitably, what the best way is, I say that our actions/conduct will speak much loud

In the Dumpster, Part II Hard as it may be to believe, I must confess that my situation is even more confused than it was last week. At our Committee meeting, the two offenders and two witnesses came as promised, and individualy gave their versions of events. These were the four boys who, based on the statements of the other Scouts and the written statement of one of the offenders, had direct knowledge of just what went on. The "victim", with his parents present, gave a sincere, perhaps somewhat coached version that matched with other statements from the Troop. I believed him. The o

Rooster7 Can't thank you enough for youy perspective. The rules are there for anybody to read, and must take precedence. The information gathered is from written statements by the boys present - some saw nothing, others everything. One of the offenders confessed his role in great detail - a truthful Scout, if nothing else. The participants themselves will be telling the full story to the Committee tonight, and the Committee will decide the appropriate action. As SM, I'm going to reccommend the course of action that allows everyone to continue Scouting somewhere - Justice would not be

Thanks for your good advise and fresh perspective. I am not sure what the parents are trying to achieve in all this. Maybe as you suggested they are trying to use this incident as a hook to hang up baggage they are not dealing with very well. His school problems weigh heavily on them, I'm sure, and maybe they feel this incident might be more than his somewhat fragile self-image can bear. Knee jerk reaction to a threat to their son? My relations with the both of them have been cordial and cooperative in the past. Recent co-location at Camporees and an outstanding Scouting For

I am the fairly rookie Scoutmaster (approx. 2 years) of a smallish Troop, and I need some advice. During a recent meeting, two scouts tossed a third into a small trash dumpster at the Church hall where we meet. Based on information gathered, it started out as fun for all hands, but at the end, the happily(!) unhurt victim was upset. All three of the boys have a history in and out of the troop that preceedes my involvement with the troop. The real problem is the parents of the victim. They are very active in the local Cub program (Cubmaster, Den Leader), solid volunteers, good people, with